"Ragtime" at Perry Meridian High School
Topic: Events & Festivals | Theater
Posted: Thu, Feb 9, 2006 
Controversy has been brewing over Perry Meridian High School's decision to preform the musical "Ragtime" (opening February 23rd) because the play contains racial epithets. In fact, the controversy over the play led to a school board meeting Monday night, where they decided they show must go on, but with a warning to viewers about the content.
Ragtime is set in the early 1900's and the subject matter includes examination of racial tensions, designed to raise awareness of race issues in American history. Apparently that examination is too real for some sensitive potential theater-goers. The play appeared on Broadway in 1988, and is critically acclaimed and considered by some to be one the best American musicals. It features a very large cast and complex musical numbers, so for a high school to take it on as a production is very ambitious.
Perry Township's school site indicates that tickets are $10 for reserved seating and $8 for general admission, but I wasn't able to find any information on where to reserve tickets. If you're interested in attending, I'd suggest calling the school and asking about where to obtain tickets at (317) 789-4400. The musical is presented in three shows at Thursday, February 23rd at 7 p.m., Saturday, February 25th at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, February 26th at 2 p.m. Perry Meridian High School is located at 401 West Meridian School Road.
TrackBacks
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.indyscribe.com/cgi-bin/mt-tb.cgi/241
Categories
- About Us
- Board and Video Games
- Books
- Day Trips
- Events & Festivals
- Film & TV
- Geek Bling
- History
- Hoosier Oddities
- Indianapolis In the News
- Indianapolis Living
- Kids' Stuff
- Local Attractions
- Local Celebrities
- Museums and Visual Arts
- Music
- Night Life
- Photos
- Restaurants
- Shopping
- Sports
- Theater
- Transportation
- Weather
Archives
IndyScribe Authors
- Jennifer Bortel
- Brad Koch
- Brent Mundy
Comments
1. Feb 21, 06 02:15 PM | Marvette said:
As an African American 30 year old Woman, I wish all the students participating in this play the best. Unfortunately I am located in Washington DC and I really wish I was able to see your work, but I was just reading about the struggles you have had to go through recently to put on this production and I just wanted to wish you all the best. I was starting to think that kids in this generation did not appreciate all that our ancestors have done and when I see young adults like you fighting for our freedoms, it makes me think there is still hopes. You guys keep fighting for the fredoms that our constitution gave us and stay strong in what you do. Best Wishes.
2. Feb 21, 06 10:59 PM | Mark said:
I congratulate your perseverance and wish you the best of luck; I'l be in the audience (should I be able to find a seat!) cheering you on and proud of each and every one of you fine actors/actresses for being able to take such an ugly word, OWN the word, and transcend it into the historical significance it deserves. There have been many ugly words to describe both macro- and microcosms of the human race; a derogatory term only has significance if the slandered group allows it to.
By standing true to the story of Ragtime, just as any racially or culturally repressed groups have throughout history, will only weaken the sting of any "hateful word". Thank you for doing your part - you are truly heroes to the 'American Spirit'..
Again - congratulations and good luck - may this individually and collectively be the beginning to a collborateve consignment to spread the word of tolerance and understanding in the 21st century.
M Raggio
3. Feb 22, 06 10:59 AM | Steph Mineart said:
For those who may not have caught the recent news about this musical, see the two IndyStar articles below. Since I first wrote this article, the school board edited the musical to bow to the wishes of protestors...
http://tinyurl.com/og64e
Then they decided to restore the original script, despite the protests.
http://tinyurl.com/r8c4d
All of this is rather odd to me, since the point of the musical is to expose how deeply wrong racism is.
4. Feb 23, 06 09:30 AM | jlbrown said:
maybe the protesters could be offered a censored version for their intellectual edification.
5. Feb 23, 06 09:38 AM | Michael Packer said:
Somehow "censor" and "intellectual" don't seem to go together ;D
My own personal take when I saw this story was "well, if I know kids - if any of them objected to the performance, then they probably wouldn't be doing it".
One of the students involved put it best by pointing out (as has been done so many times in the past) that it is a reflection of the time period that the story is set in. It serves to remind us how far we've come and still how far we need to go as a society.
Heck, you're probably going to see more "racism" in an hour or two of Comedy Central than you ever will on a high school stage - especially since so many comedians are tackling the subject of stereotypes and slurs in a very head-on and frank manner.
6. Mar 13, 06 07:49 AM | EE said:
Rather strange to read this as a Brit who has a daughter who appeared in the production. I'm disgusted that so much vitriol can be surfaced around 'kids' performing a very deeply prevocative 'piece' of social history.
I'm afraid that America has to look a lot 'deeper' than performances of 'Ragtime' to manage its social bias.
7. Aug 23, 06 12:59 PM | Jamie said:
First off, we are not kids. We are young adults and I like to think that we are mature enough to handle this. We would not have done it if we were offended personally. I was in the show and I like to thank those who came out and saw us. And for those who didn't, I feel sorry for you. Straight up, I'm a realist and I keep it real. This is what happened back then, then we dont change a thing to suit somebody's personal needs. If you want to watch something that's fake and sugarcoated, then go watch something like Barney. I'm just appalled about the people who don't even know the story and say that it is wrong to perform. This musical was something so much bigger than just a perfomance. It is a life changing experience. And if you ask anyone they will agree.
8. Oct 21, 11 09:59 AM | Rosie Bishop said:
I long to see a production of Ragtime. I think the story is a profound portrayal of America's transformations at the turn of the century: social, racial, economic, lifestyle, industrial, class and more. The same issues exist today in differing forms. The musical is far more true to the book than is the movie. I'd plan to see it on Broadway if it were playing. If there is a videotape available, I would to love to arrange to see it. Perry Township was my source of teaching joy--and challenge--in the 70's and 80's.